The melody of the guzheng slowly faded into silence.
The final note lingered softly beneath the moonlit sky.
Then—
Stillness returned to the hill once more.
Under the ancient tree—
The woman's slender fingers slowly rested upon the strings.
Her calm gaze remained fixed upon the moon above.
The night wind gently moved her long black hair.
At that moment—
Soft footsteps approached from behind.
A young disciple dressed in sect robes stopped a short distance away.
She lowered her head respectfully.
"Elder…"
"The Sect Master is looking for you."
For a moment—
No response came.
The woman remained seated quietly beneath the tree.
Cold moonlight reflected within her calm eyes.
Then—
She slowly stood up.
Her flowing white and blue robes swayed lightly in the wind.
The disciple lowered her head even further.
Respect clearly visible in her expression.
Within the Dao Temple Sect—
Very few people possessed such status.
The woman quietly raised her gaze toward the distant mountains.
As though looking far beyond them.
Then—
Her calm voice finally sounded.
"Did he say why?"
The disciple quickly shook her head.
"No, Elder."
"He only said it was important."
The woman remained silent briefly.
Then gave a faint nod.
"Understood."
The disciple respectfully stepped aside.
The woman slowly turned—
And walked toward the wooden house beneath the moonlight.
The night wind continued flowing across the lonely hill.
While somewhere far away—
A caravan steadily moved closer toward the Dao Temple Sect.
Several days later—
The caravan finally arrived near the territory of the Dao Temple Sect.
The road ahead gradually became crowded.
Cultivators.
Merchants.
Travelers from different regions.
All moving toward the massive city located beneath the sect.
Even from far away—
The atmosphere already felt completely different from the small village Li Xuan came from.
Powerful spiritual energy lingered faintly within the air itself.
The towering mountains ahead pierced into the clouds.
At the peak of those mountains—
Ancient structures could faintly be seen.
Grand.
Majestic.
Like a sacred land beyond the mortal world.
The Dao Temple Sect.
The caravan slowly came to a halt near the outer city road.
Several travelers began unloading supplies while others prepared to rest within the city before returning home.
The man who had often spoken with Li Xuan during the journey walked toward him.
"Well…"
"We've finally arrived."
Li Xuan silently looked toward the distant sect mountains.
His calm eyes reflected the towering structures far away.
The man glanced at him and smiled lightly.
"If anything goes wrong…"
"You can still return with us after a few days."
"We'll remain here for around a week before heading back."
His tone carried sincerity.
After all—
He knew entering the Dao Temple Sect was far from easy.
Especially for someone arriving after the recruitment period had already ended.
Li Xuan gave a faint nod.
"Understood."
Then he quietly added,
"Thank you for everything during the journey."
The man laughed lightly.
"Haha…"
"No need to be so serious."
He raised a hand casually.
"Do your best."
Li Xuan nodded once more.
Then—
Without further hesitation—
He turned and began walking toward the Dao Temple Sect alone.
The bustling sounds of the city gradually faded behind him.
Step by step—
He moved closer toward the towering mountains ahead.
The closer he approached—
The more imposing the sect appeared.
Massive stone walls stretched across the mountain entrance like an ancient fortress.
Tall enough to make people feel insignificant before them.
Ancient carvings covered the surface of the walls.
Faint spiritual energy flowed through the engraved patterns.
At the center stood a gigantic gate.
Dozens of meters tall.
Dark blue in color.
Heavy.
Majestic.
Above the gate—
Three massive words were carved deeply into stone.
Dao Temple Sect.
The pressure released from the sect itself was enough to make ordinary cultivators feel nervous unconsciously.
Several disciples wearing sect robes guarded the entrance.
Each standing upright with sharp expressions.
Their auras were far stronger than ordinary village cultivators.
Li Xuan slowly approached the entrance.
His expression remained calm.
But before he could step through the gate—
Two guards suddenly crossed their spears before him.
Stopping his path instantly.
"Stop."
One of the guards spoke coldly.
His sharp gaze swept across Li Xuan.
"State your identity."
The other guard frowned slightly while sensing Li Xuan's unstable aura.
"And what business do you have at the Dao Temple Sect?"
The atmosphere near the entrance instantly became tense.
Several nearby disciples quietly glanced toward Li Xuan.
Waiting for his answer.
Li Xuan stopped calmly before the crossed spears.
His expression did not change.
"My name is Li Xuan."
His voice remained steady.
"I came to join the Dao Temple Sect."
For a brief moment—
Silence lingered near the entrance.
Then—
One of the guards suddenly laughed.
The other soon followed.
Their laughter echoed lightly near the massive gate.
"You came to join the sect?"
The first guard looked at Li Xuan from head to toe.
His eyes carried obvious ridicule.
"Kid…"
"You're too late."
"The recruitment period ended long ago."
He casually pointed down the mountain road.
"If you want to join…"
"Come back next year."
Several nearby disciples also revealed faint mocking smiles.
But before Li Xuan could reply—
The second guard suddenly spoke.
His tone carried even more disdain.
"Next year?"
He looked at Li Xuan's unstable aura and damaged cultivation.
Then sneered.
"With your zero cultivation…"
"You think you can enter the Dao Temple Sect?"
He shook his head mockingly.
"You should stop dreaming."
Another nearby disciple suddenly laughed loudly.
"Haha…"
"Maybe he can't even join in his dreams."
The surrounding disciples burst into laughter.
Mocking gazes landed upon Li Xuan from every direction.
To them—
Li Xuan looked no different from an ordinary weak cultivator trying to chase an impossible dream.
After all—
The Dao Temple Sect was one of the most powerful sects in the region.
Even talented cultivators struggled to enter.
Yet now—
Someone with almost no cultivation stood before their gates asking to join.
It sounded ridiculous.
The laughter gradually spread near the entrance.
But throughout everything—
Li Xuan remained calm.
His expression did not change in the slightest.
As though the ridicule around him meant nothing at all.
Then—
Without saying another word—
He slowly raised his hand.
A faint flash appeared.
The next moment—
A jade token appeared within his palm.
The jade was snow-white in color.
Smooth.
Ancient.
Faint blue patterns flowed across its surface like moving water.
At the center—
The single word "Dao" was carved deeply into it.
The moment the jade appeared—
The atmosphere instantly changed.
The laughter abruptly stopped.
Silence.
Complete silence.
The expressions of the guards froze instantly.
Their eyes widened slightly as they stared at the jade in Li Xuan's hand.
The mocking smiles on the nearby disciples also disappeared.
One of the guards subconsciously took half a step back.
"T-That jade…"
His voice carried disbelief.
The spiritual aura released from the token was extremely pure.
Far beyond an ordinary disciple token.
The air near the entrance suddenly became tense.
No one laughed anymore.
Several disciples stared at the jade with shocked expressions.
Some even lowered their heads slightly unconsciously.
Because they all recognized one thing—
That jade definitely did not belong to an ordinary person.
The first guard's expression gradually became serious.
Completely different from before.
His gaze shifted from the jade toward Li Xuan.
For the first time—
There was no ridicule left in his eyes.
Only caution.
"Where…"
"Did you get that token?"
His voice had become noticeably heavier.
The surroundings remained deathly quiet.
Even the disciples guarding the entrance stood straighter unconsciously.
As though facing someone they could no longer afford to mock carelessly.